Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the Body and Everyday Life

Back pain, neck stiffness, joint pain, osteoarthritis, or limited mobility can make everyday movements difficult. Climbing stairs, sleeping, exercising, or sitting for long periods of time may then feel different than they used to.

During the TCM assessment, I’ll evaluate your physical condition, the progression of your symptoms, and the stresses of your daily life.

• Possible concerns: back pain, neck tension, joint pain, osteoarthritis, limited mobility, and symptoms following injuries.
• Possible methods: Acupuncture, Tuina, Qi Gong, as well as practical tips for movement and recovery in your daily life.
• For you: You’ll receive body-centered support that takes into account your current capacity and daily life. Together, we’ll determine which next steps are feasible for you.

When pain persists for a long time or keeps coming back, it often affects sleep, mood, concentration, and mobility. Many people then seek a different perspective to better understand their situation and regain more freedom of action in their daily lives.

TCM takes into account the progression of your symptoms, your physical condition, your habits, and your stressors.

• Focus: Pain progression, daily well-being, sleep quality, and limitations in daily life.

• Key methods: A combination of acupuncture for nerve relaxation, pain-relieving herbal formulas, and gentle bodywork.

• Your benefit: The goal of TCM treatment is to provide the impetus needed to break the cycle of pain, relieve strain on your body, and help you achieve greater well-being in your daily life.

Let’s work together to find a way for you to enjoy more ease and carefree days again.

Training, competition, an injury, or surgery place special demands on the body. Questions often arise when you’re getting back into it, too: How much physical exertion is appropriate right now? How can you support your recovery? And how do you regain confidence in your movement?

Through my experience working with athletes (including those in skiing, handball, volleyball, and Swiss wrestling), I have firsthand knowledge of the specific demands of sports, physical exertion, and recovery.

• Possible topics: muscle tension, tendon irritation, slowed recovery, and returning to sports after sports injuries.

• Focused methods: Sports acupuncture , intensive Tuina tissue techniques, and targeted nutritional strategies for tissue regeneration.

• Benefits for you: Faster recovery times after physical exertion, a safer return to sports, and a significantly improved sense of well-being.

So you can pursue your athletic goals with renewed energy and without fear of setbacks.

Persistent stress can manifest physically. You may experience persistent neck tension, shallower breathing, more restless sleep, or changes in your digestion. The feeling of being constantly exhausted or internally tense can also affect your quality of life.

During the TCM assessment, we consider stress, sleep, diet, exercise, and personal habits.

• Topics of discussion: Physical pressure points, the nervous system, breathing patterns, and your daily energy drainers.

• Focus on methods: Calming acupuncture points to reduce stress levels, balancing herbs, and breathing/Qi Gong techniques.

• Benefits for you: Your autonomic nervous system finds calm, physical symptoms of stress subside, and you’ll feel more resilient and internally at peace again.

Create a safe space for yourself to take a deep breath and recharge your batteries for the long term.

Trouble falling asleep, frequent waking, or persistent fatigue rob you of rest and concentration. When you start the day already exhausted, work, family, exercise, and even simple tasks quickly become an added burden.

When addressing sleep problems, TCM considers factors such as your sleep rhythm, diet, daily stressors, digestion, and physical tension.

• Focus: Sleep architecture, evening routines, nourishing the body, and energetic balance.

• Key methods: Nourishing herbal therapy (herbs), gentle acupuncture in the evening, and warming dietary recommendations.

• Your benefits: Gentle support aimed at harmonizing your sleep rhythm, promoting regeneration, and counteracting constant fatigue.

Rediscover your natural sleep rhythm and start each morning feeling refreshed and energized.

Gas, bloating, irregular digestion, or food intolerances can affect your well-being and how you plan your day. At the same time, many people want to improve their diet without feeling pressured by strict rules or constant restrictions.

A TCM nutritional consultation based on the Five Elements takes into account your eating habits, your daily routine, the season, and how you prepare your meals.

• Focus: Digestibility , gut health, energy extraction from food, and abdominal comfort.

• Key methods: 5-Element nutritional counseling (warm meals, spices) combined with acupuncture for the digestive organs.

• Your benefits: Clear recommendations and guidance aimed at soothing your gut, easing digestion, and preventing feelings of fullness.

Learn to understand what truly strengthens your gut—for greater well-being with every meal.

Skin reactions, atopic dermatitis, hay fever, or recurring seasonal symptoms can interfere with sleep, work, and leisure activities. Itching, irritation, or reduced performance often also take a toll on your mood and energy levels in everyday life.

TCM considers such issues in the context of your personal constitution, diet, stress, and immune system.

• Focus: Skin condition, itching, immune system, reaction to environmental stimuli, and allergen exposure.

• Key methods: Immune-regulating acupuncture, cooling/cleansing herbal formulas, and a personalized diet.

• Your benefits: Targeted methods that gently support your immune system and can help noticeably soothe skin irritations or allergic reactions.

We’ll help restore balance to your immune system so you can feel completely comfortable in your own skin.

Rheumatic or autoimmune diseases can be associated with pain, swelling, fatigue, and fluctuating symptoms. Such conditions require time, careful observation, and support that takes your personal situation seriously.

My specialized training in TCM focused on autoimmune diseases and psychosomatic disorders provides a solid foundation for my assessment.

• Professional Background: Advanced training in TCM for autoimmune processes and chronic inflammatory patterns.

• Focused Methods: Gentle , immunomodulatory acupuncture, personalized herbal therapy, and anti-inflammatory dietary principles.

• Your Benefits: Honest and well-informed TCM support on an equal footing, with the goal of gently supporting your body during times of stress and promoting mobility as effectively as possible.

I’ll guide you with expertise and care on your journey toward greater stability and well-being.

Menstrual symptoms, menopause, and changes related to pregnancy and childbirth can affect the body, sleep, mood, and daily life. During these phases of life, many women seek personalized support from someone who will listen attentively to their concerns.

TCM can help contextualize cycle-related symptoms and hormonal fluctuations through a trusting conversation.

• Focus: Cycle regulation, pain relief, hot flashes, mood swings, and hormonal balance.

• Key methods: Hormone-regulating acupuncture, specific herbal formulas for women, and warming moxibustion.

• Your benefits: A cycle with fewer symptoms, noticeable relief from menopausal symptoms, and greater well-being in your own body.

Restore your hormonal balance naturally and experience a renewed sense of your femininity.

Children and adolescents can also develop symptoms that put a strain on daily family life. These include, for example, digestive problems, skin rashes, food intolerances, bedwetting, or care following injuries.

In TCM care for children, age, developmental stage, medical history, and previous diagnostic findings are carefully taken into account.

• Focus: Gentle pediatric care, the immune system, sleep, and supporting digestion during growth.

• Key methods: Pain-free techniques (e.g., seed grains applied to ear points, gentle Tuina tapping massages, tasty herbal teas).

• Benefits for your family: Gentle relief for your child without the fear of needles—and a calmer, more relaxed daily life for the whole family.

Treat your family to gentle and effective support for healthy growth.

In acupuncture, I insert very fine needles into specific points. In the traditional TCM model, these points are associated with meridians and the flow of qi, or life energy. The selection and combination of points depends on your specific concerns and the TCM assessment.

• Possible issues: pain, tension, musculoskeletal complaints, sleep problems, stress, migraines, seasonal ailments, and other concerns discussed on an individual basis.
• Procedure: After the consultation and assessment, I gently insert the needles. The rest period typically lasts at least 30 minutes. I’ll stay with you during this time. This is followed by a brief follow-up discussion.
• For you: You’ll receive a personalized treatment and ample time for rest and observation. I’ve honed my needling technique over an extended period and further refined it during a three-month clinical internship in Hanoi in 2012.

If you’re afraid of needles or injections, depending on the situation, we can explore the option of ear acupressure using small seeds.

Tuina is a traditional Chinese massage and bodywork technique. Depending on your needs, I use pressure, rubbing, kneading, stretching, mobilization, or tapping. The treatment is tailored to your physical condition and how you’re feeling that day.

• Possible concerns: Tension, back and neck pain, limited mobility, muscle strain, and issues related to movement and recovery.
• Process: Before the treatment,we’ll discuss where you need support and what level of intensity is right for you. You can provide feedback at any time during the treatment.
• For you: You’ll receive direct, body-oriented treatment and guidance on how to manage physical strain and movement more mindfully in your daily life.

In herbal medicine, herbal preparations can be used as part of a personalized consultation. Which preparation and approach are appropriate depends on your specific concern, your personal situation, and the results of a professional evaluation.

• Possible preparations, if currently available: tea, granules, tinctures, ointments, or other herbal preparations.
• Process: During the consultation, your concerns, existing diagnoses, medications, other treatments, and special circumstances—such as pregnancy—will be taken into account. Based on this, a professional recommendation will be made, provided that herbal treatment is an option.
• For you: You’ll receive clear guidance regarding usage, tolerability, and any potential follow-up questions. If you’re taking medications, are pregnant, have a chronic condition, or have any concerns, it’s important to consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

The Five Elements Diet is a nutritional approach rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In this system, foods are assigned to the five phases of transformation—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—as well as to traditional qualities.

In my TCM consultations, I combine this traditional model with your eating habits, your daily routine, the season, and your personal goals. It’s not about rigid rules, restrictions, or a one-size-fits-all dietary plan.

• Possible topics: eating habits, digestion, daily life, meal preparation, seasonal eating, and the desire for more guidance regarding your diet.
• Process: We’ll look at your daily eating habits, which meals are practical for you, and what small changes might suit you.
• For you: You’ll receive practical tips, for example on hot meals, seasonal ingredients, and complementary spices. You decide for yourself which suggestions you’d like to try in your daily life.

In my Qi Gong classes, I’ll teach you flowing, calm movements combined with specific postures, breathing exercises, and focused concentration. I offer instruction in one-on-one sessions as well as, upon request, in small, intimate groups (max. 4 people).

• Suitable for: Those seeking greater body awareness, gentle strengthening, improved flexibility, mindful breathing exercises, or as an active complement to your TCM treatment.

• How the sessions work: I tailor all exercises precisely to your physical capabilities—we perform them flexibly while standing, sitting, or lying down.

• Benefits for You: You’ll learn simple, highly effective movement and breathing sequences that you can practice independently at home at any time. This empowers you to actively shape your own health and inner peace.

Activate your life energy on your own and incorporate a tool for serenity and stability into your daily life.

A treatment session typically lasts 60 minutes and costs CHF 150. The first session usually takes about 90 minutes due to the in-depth consultation and assessment. The exact duration and fee for the first session must be confirmed again before publication.

The number of treatments recommended depends on your specific concerns, your personal situation, and how things progress. We’ll discuss the next steps together. There’s no set number of sessions. Please allow enough time before and after your appointment so that the treatment can take place in a relaxed atmosphere.

You can find more information about appointments and prices here.

My TCM treatments are covered by most health insurance providers under their supplemental insurance plans for complementary medicine. Whether and to what extent your insurance will cover the costs depends on your insurance policy. Therefore, please check with your health insurance provider directly before your first appointment to confirm the cost coverage.

When doing so, provide my ZSR number B 146563 and ask about the following points:

• Recognition of Florian Truffer
• Cost coverage for complementary medicine
• Deductible and copayment
• Annual limit
• Required registration or ZSR number

If the cost of treatment is currently a challenge for you, please feel free to talk to me about it. Together, we’ll see if we can find a workable solution.

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please notify us by phone or email at least 24 hours in advance. If you cancel later than that or fail to show up, you may be charged the full cost of the appointment.

Generally speaking, yes, provided you have appropriate supplemental insurance for alternative and complementary medicine. As a qualified TCM therapist, I am recognized by the major Swiss registries (e.g., EMR / ASCA / EGK).

• Individual Coverage: The exact coverage depends on your personal insurance policy.

• Direct Billing: After your treatments, you’ll receive a detailed reimbursement form (Tariff 590) to submit to your health insurance provider.

Tip: Before your first appointment, check with your supplemental insurance provider to confirm your exact coverage.

Florian Truffer; ZSR number: B 146563

The number of sessions that are appropriate depends largely on the individual’s specific concerns and the course of treatment. With acute issues, initial changes can often be observed after just a few sessions. With chronic conditions or symptoms that have persisted for years, the body usually needs a little more time to adjust. After about 4 to 6 sessions, we’ll take stock of our progress together.

• Initial Assessment: After about 4 to 6 sessions, we’ll take stock and evaluate your progress.

• Long-Term Goal: The goal isn’t just short-term symptom relief, but to bring your body into a stable, long-term balance.

We’ll discuss your personalized treatment plan openly during your first appointment in Stans.

Most people find acupuncture to be very gentle and well-tolerated. I use extremely fine, disposable specialty needles. Often, when the needle is inserted, patients feel only a slight, pleasant sensation of warmth or a tingling sensation (known as the “De-Qi” sensation). If you have any concerns, we can adjust the procedure at any time or use needle-free alternatives.

• Gentle Approach: I proceed with the utmost sensitivity and tailor the pace entirely to your comfort.

• Gentle Alternatives: If you have a strong fear of needles, we’ll use completely needle-free methods—for example, laser or ear acupressure, warming moxibustion, or Tuina massage.

You remain in full control throughout the entire treatment and can sit back and relax.

Pulse and tongue diagnosis is a key diagnostic tool in TCM for accurately assessing your body’s current energetic state. By observing the shape of your tongue, its coating, and the quality of your pulse, I gain valuable insights into internal imbalances before they become entrenched as chronic symptoms.

• Tongue diagnosis: Color, shape, and coating reflect the condition of your organs and your metabolism.

• Pulse diagnosis: By feeling different pulse positions on your wrist, I assess the dynamics of your energy flow (Qi).

• Holistic Assessment: The findings are never considered in isolation but are always linked to the symptoms you’ve described and your daily life.

This sensitive diagnostic approach forms the foundation for your personalized TCM treatment plan.

Yes, your wishes and preferences are always taken into account during our initial consultation. We’ll decide together—based on your personal assessment and comfort level—whether to use acupuncture, Tuina massage, or herbal medicine.

• Transparent consultation: After the initial assessment, I’ll explain in clear terms which method is most likely to benefit your specific concern.

• Your decision: Treatment doesn’t begin until you feel completely comfortable and confident with the approach.

• Flexibility: If, for example, you’re afraid of needles, we’ll happily switch to pain-free alternatives such as moxibustion, Tuina, or ear acupressure.

Let’s have a casual discussion during our first consultation to determine which approach is most comfortable for you.

Yes, a single TCM session or an initial consultation is always possible and a good way for you to get a sense of how I work. However, for lasting relief from chronic or deep-seated symptoms, ongoing care is usually recommended.

• First Appointment: This serves to conduct a thorough assessment, provide initial guidance, and offer a clear evaluation of your concerns.

• Flexible Approach: After each session, you decide for yourself—with no obligation—how you’d like to proceed with treatment.

• Support throughout the process: For acute issues, just a few sessions are often sufficient, while long-standing conditions require a gradual approach to allow for healing.

Together, we’ll find a rhythm that integrates seamlessly and stress-free into your daily life.

Your safety is our top priority: TCM treatment can be combined very effectively with conventional medicine, provided that all medications you are taking and any pre-existing conditions are clearly documented. I will never change or discontinue conventional medications on my own initiative.

• Complete Overview: During the initial consultation, we’ll document all medications, dietary supplements, and ongoing treatments.

• Safe herbal medicine: When formulating Chinese herbal prescriptions, I strictly monitor for interactions with your medications.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: If there are any uncertainties, I’ll consult directly with your primary care physician or specialist upon request.

Simply bring your current medical records or medication lists with you to your first appointment—no need to stress.

Yes, Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ideal complement to physical therapy, osteopathy, or sports medicine rehabilitation. This combination can often significantly speed up the healing process following injuries or surgeries.

• Targeted Synergies: While physical therapy structurally strengthens ligaments, muscles, and joints, TCM improves tissue perfusion and alleviates pain.

• Faster Recovery: Acupuncture and Tuina reduce tension in overworked muscle chains and stimulate metabolism.

• Clear Roles: Medical and physical therapy management remain unaffected; TCM acts as an accelerating catalyst.

Please feel free to share your previous rehabilitation plans and medical findings with me so that we can provide you with the best possible support for your recovery.

If, during the initial assessment, it becomes clear that your concern needs to be addressed from a conventional medical perspective, I will communicate this to you openly and directly. Your health is my top priority.

• Clear Distinction: Emergencies, acute infections, or serious organic pathologies primarily fall under the purview of conventional medicine.

• Reliable Network: If necessary, I’ll recommend that you seek evaluation at a primary care practice, with specialists, or at a hospital.

• Supportive Role: Once medical safety is ensured, TCM can often be brought back in to provide support.

With me, you’ll always receive an honest and professionally sound assessment of your situation.

I determine whether Chinese herbal medicine is appropriate based on your TCM diagnosis, your constitution, and your ability to cope with daily stress. Herbal formulas work deeply from within and are particularly valuable when the body lacks substance or energy.

• Highest Swiss quality: I source all medicinal plants exclusively from specialized Swiss pharmacies (tested for heavy metals and pesticides).

• Custom Blends: You’ll receive a formula tailored precisely to your symptoms, available as granules, tea, or a decoction.

• Ongoing Adjustments: If your symptoms change during the healing process, I’ll flexibly adjust the composition.

I’ll explain the dosage, effects, and duration of your herbal formula to you step by step in detail.

You can easily contact me online, by phone, or by email to schedule an appointment or request an initial consultation.
 

• Brief Description: When submitting your request, please briefly indicate the nature of your inquiry and whether any preliminary assessments have already been conducted. 

• Prices & Details: You’ll find all current information on rates, treatment times, and practice locations clearly listed under the “Prices and Appointments” section.

I look forward to welcoming you in person at my practice and supporting you on your journey.

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